Atlético Madrid Counselor CLEMENTE VILLAVERDE and Spanish Second Division side Numancia Dir General VICTOR MANUEL MARTÍN will be the Spanish Football League (LFP)'s first and second VPs, respectively, for the next two years (EFE, 5/30). ... Former National Rugby League Parramatta Eels Chair ROY SPAGNOLO "has been booted off the Parramatta Leagues Club board yet again." Spagnolo "was spectacularly voted out at the recent elections before returning to the board through a loophole." But, "based on legal advice," Spagnolo was forced to stand down Friday with SID KELLY the replacement (HERALD SUN, 5/31). ... Italian Serie A club Udinese Calcio "have officially announced" that CHRISTIAN GIARETTA "will be their new sporting director as of next season." FABRIZIO LARINI confirmed that he "would step down from the post at the Zebrette this summer" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/30). ... China's ZHANG JILONG has joined the FIFA exec committee, replacing Sri Lankan VERNON MANILAL FERNANDO, "who is serving an eight-year ban for unethical behaviour." Zhang headed the Asian Football Confederation "for nearly two years on an interim basis" after FIFA dismissed former AFC boss MOHAMMED BIN HAMMAM for bribery and corruption in '11 (REUTERS, 5/30).

COACHES: Former Queens Park Rangers Manager MARK HUGHES was unveiled as Stoke City manager Thursday morning (LONDON TIMES, 5/30). ... La Liga side Rayo Vallecano coach PACO JEMEZ "has ended speculation surrounding his future by finally signing a new two-year contract" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 5/30). ... South African Premier Soccer League side BidVest Wits coach GAVINHUNT "has become one of the highest paid coaches in the Premier Soccer League," thanks to his monthly salary of R750,000 ($75,000) at his new club. Hunt quit SuperSport United Thursday "to join The Clever Boys where he was given a signing-on fee" of R10M ($998,000) (SOWETAN LIVE, 5/30). ... La Liga side Real Valladolid coach MIROSLAV DJUKIC "has confirmed that he will leave" the Valladolid at the end of the season after two years with the club. His work "has reportedly earned him admirers elsewhere," with former side Valencia said to be lining him up as a possible replacement for coach ERNESTO VALVERDE (EUROSPORT, 5/30).

Indian cricketer ANKEET CHAVAN, arrested on suspicion of spot-fixing earlier this month, “has been granted conditional bail so he can get married on Sunday” (REUTERS, 5/30). … NBA players ROBIN LOPEZ and GREIVIS VASQUEZ of the New Orleans Pelicans “will make an appearance in Singapore” at the June 21-23 NBA three-on-three tournament at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza (STRAITS TIMES, 5/30). ... Australian Football League side Collingwood board and coach NATHAN BUCKLEY "have expressed their support" for President EDDIE MCGUIRE, who believes his efforts to make amends with Sydney Swans player ADAM GOODES "will see him avoid sanction for his insensitive comments about the Sydney player." McGuire, "who must undergo mediation with Goodes as part of the AFL's racial and religious vilification policy, will stay on as the club's leader" (CANBERRA TIMES, 5/31). McGuire also offered to resign from his position as the chairman of the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre, "an offer that Long rejected." McGuire: ''There's no ducking around or anything else, it is what it is. I'm enternally disappointed and sorry on what happened and I will make amends. I will make amends, I promise you I will make amends" (THE AGE, 5/30).